Samoa's Blue Belle

Grete Liu'ana competed in the Netball World championship - Representing Samoa. OH-07-0793-02-tn.jpg.

AC Grete Liua’ana may not have played for New Zealand’s own Silver Ferns in last month’s World Netball Championships but at least she was wearing the right colour – blue, of course!

Ohakea-based Administration Specialist AC Liua’ana plays centre and wing attack for the Samoan women’s netball team and proudly represented her country of birth in the World Champs held at West Auckland’s Waitakere Trust Stadium over November 9-17.

She says she was a little disappointed by the Samoan team’s performance at the World Champs with them managing ‘only’ 8th place in a field of 16 teams (Samoa went into the tournament ranked sixth in the world).

‘The Champs was a good experience and a big learning curve,’ she says, with the highlight being the thrilling final between the Silver Ferns and their arch rivals, the Aussies.

And what if the NZ team invited her to play? Would she put her hand up or stick with the Samoan team?

‘That’s a big if,’ she replies. ‘But if New Zealand did, I would probably say no. Only because NZ are at the point where they have been number one and can easily get back to number 1. Samoa, on the other hand, are ranked 8th and the challenge to get to that top spot would take a lot of hard work and the result would be worthwhile and something to be proud of. Being able to help Samoa improve its ranking is something to hang around for.’ AC Liua’ana plans to play for the Samoan team ‘for as long as I can’.

AC Grete Liua’ana plays a big role in the Samoan Women’s Netball Team. OH-07-0793-01-tn.jpg.

AC Liua’ana’s parents live in New Zealand but, like many other overseas based Samoans, ‘everyone else lives in NZ and Australia’. She is keen on a wide range of sports but says touch, basketball and tennis are up there with her passion for netball.

Ultimately the RNZAF could gain from AC Liua’ana’s top level netball experience. ‘Unfortunately, I have not had a chance to play in any netball interbases. The last two netball interbases have always been on the same time as a netball trip for Samoa but I’m looking forward to getting the opportunity to play for the Air Force.’ Go the Blues.